Cpl Edward Jones 6th bn RWF

[Home Front Museum]

I am looking for information about Corporal Edward Jones (D/26032) who served in 6th bn RWF. He died on 19 March 1947 aged 52 and was awarded the Military Medal for "exemplary gallantry during active service". He is buried in Conwy (with a CWGC headstone) and was from Deganwy.


I would appreciate any pointers in trying to find the citation or anything about his service. I have looked in the local papers for 1947 but to no avail. Could he have served in WW1 also and the MM be from then?

Many thanks Adrian

[Hywyn]

I'm putting this one forward as a possible to explore the possibilites. I don't know about WW2 matters so if someone else can find a link.

4178579 Edward Jones was 25 yrs old when he got that number on enlisting in the TA in June 1920 (ticks the box on year of birth)

He was from 4 Church Street, Conway (at that enlistment)

In WW1 he served 6th RWF TF as 689 (later 265075).

His MM is in London Gazette 7 2 1919

[Hywyn]

Looking good to be the right one.

From his CWGC

Son of John Thomas Jones and Susannah Jones; husband of Ellen Jones, of Conwy.


The 1911 census links all three names from the CWGC entry(i.e. Edward & parents) to that 4 Church Street address
Here's the link.
http://interactive.ancestry.co.uk/2353/rg14_34518_0495_06/2095189?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.co.uk %2f%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3findiv%3d1%26db%3d1911Wales%26gss%3 dangs-d%26new%3d1%26rank%3d1%26MS_AdvCB%3d1%26gsfn%3dedw ard%26gsfn_x%3d1%26gsln%3djones%26gsln_x%3d1%26msb dy%3d1895%26msbdy_x%3d1%26msbdp%3d1%26msbpn__ftp_x %3d1%26msrpn__ftp_x%3d1%26msypn__ftp_x%3d1%26msfng _x%3d1%26msfns_x%3d1%26msmng_x%3d1%26msmns_x%3d1%2 6msbng0_x%3d1%26mssng0_x%3d1%26mssns0_x%3d1%26mscn g0_x%3d1%26gskw%3dconw*%26gskw_x%3d1%26MSAV%3d-1%26uidh%3da63%26pcat%3d35%26fh%3d7%26h%3d2095189% 26recoff%3d%26ml_rpos%3d8&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnRecord

[Hywyn]

Accepting that he's the right one I'll further expand on his WW1 service.

The 689 number denotes TF enlistment of 15th June 1909 (at least about 7 Conway men, or lad in his case, can be shown enlisting that date with numbers slightly before or after him)

Assumption made he was embodied at war outbreak.

Went to Gallipoli in 1915. Medal Rolls show overseas wholly with 1st 6th and 5/6th when they amalgamated in 1918.

Is on a War Office wounded list dated 11 7 1918. Usually 4 to 6 weeks from event to list.

London Gazette entry. No citation unfortunately
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31173/supplement/2107

Given the post 1920 service I'd doubt if his papers would be available without going via MOD. I have had a quick look on a number search for him. Can't see any.

[Home Front Museum]

Thank you Hywyn for your replies and comprehensive information about his WW1 service. I am assuming that he was injured during WW2 too and that his death in 1947 was linked to that event - a lot more digging to do. Thank you. Adrian.

[Hywyn]

Not necessarily Adrian. If WW2 was like WW1 death whilst in service from any cause is commemorated.

I have had a quick look on the online newspapers, primarily for a photo, but am not able to bring anything up for him. Which was the main paper for Conway area? I've seen quite a bit about the town in the North Wales Chronicle and Carnarvon & Denbigh but were they the main papers?

[Hywyn]

On the RWF Museum Facebook page were a couple of photos of E Coy 6th RWF men 1914 on the Morfas (maybe you also had them on yours?)

E Coy was based on Conway so Edward Jones is bound to be one of them.

Don't know if Facebook links works

Here's one, can't spot the other one

https://www.facebook.com/146060182083938/photos/pb.146060182083938.-2207520000.1443128038./937620936261188/?type=3&theater

[Hywyn]

Here's his brother John Alfred Jones.

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/671187/JONES,%20J%20A

My notes from the post 1920 book puts him to same address i.e. 4 Church Street. He died of (or is it from) appendicitis. Given where he is buried he was at the Depot at the time?

He had enlisted as 24679 RWF on 28 7 1915*. He served with 17th Bn France from 3 8 1918 to 28 4 1919. Carried on as a Regular with the 4179189 number




* he's 11 yrs old on the 1911 census

[Home Front Museum]

Hywyn, thank you once again for your research and thoughts. The main newspaper for the Conway area was the North Wales Weekly News with some Conway news in the North Wales Coast Pioneer. Welsh Newspapers online only have 1909/10 digitised for the Weekly News but the archives have got both. I will have another look in the papers and see if I can find anything about his death, funeral or obituary in 1947. Adrian

[ap1]

Hi Both,

Great work Hywyn.

My only addition, according to the enlistment books, he re-enlisted "T/RWF" on the date you gave. He is then marked down as departing the regiment "24/07/1931"

[LarsA]

A post on Service Numbers on the British Medals Forum indicates that his numbers is a RASC number where the prefix indicates "Driver".

ATB,

Lars

[Hywyn]

I wondered about that number Lars. Given what Al says about discharged from RWF 1931 it seems he has re enlisted with someone else for WW2. Although RASC got 1 to 294000 in the 1920 renumbering* his number seems short for a post 1931 or a WW2 era RASC man?



*http://www.1914-1918.net/renumbering20.htm

[LarsA]

The post I got my info from was for a man in the SWB, no D/34180. That is not to say Edward did not transfer back to the RWF after a stint in the RASC. He might have been early RASC, then transfer back to RWF, and then I think he would keep his number.

Lars

[ap1]

He doesnt appear on the 6th Bn list of men who landed at Normandy in 44. In my mind he would be a little to old. Indeed, there is no 417's in the list….quite a few 418's though. If he was a bit higher in rank maybe, but I dont think 50yr old Infantry Cpls were the norm. That being said, It would be a very really possibility in the RASC I suppose.

[Home Front Museum]

Many thanks for all the replies and comments. I found his obituary in the North Wales Weekly News which some may find interesting. Adrian

“Mr Edward Jones MM – Former well known footballer Mr Edward (Ted) Jones died on Tuesday last week at his home, 20, Rose Hill Street, Conway after a long illness. Aged 52, he is survived by his wife, Mrs Nellie Jones, four sons and one daughter, his mother, Mrs S Jones, Tremorfa, several sisters and a brother.
A native of Conway, Mr Jones before his marriage lived with his parents in Church Street. His father, Mr J Thomas, was a commercial traveller. Ted served with the 6th Battalion RWF in the 1914-18 war, being awarded the Military Medal during the Dardanelles campaign, and he also volunteered for service with the RWF in the last war. In all he had 32 years association with the RWF (war time and Territorial service), and was for some years drum major with the Conway “C” Company of the 6th Battalion Territorials.
Member of the Conway Town Band and later the Penmaenmawr Silver Band he was an excellent soprano cornet player and his services as trumpeter at eisteddfodau were much in demand. He played football for several North Wales clubs, including Conway, Penmaenmawr and Llandudno Junction and had assisted Manchester United. Later he served on the Conway club committee. Bandsmen and members of the British Legion were the bearers at the funeral on Saturday which was largely attended.”